49ers sign fifth-round cornerback

The new labor deal makes it easy to sign rookie draft picks. And they’re signing at a brisk pace.

The latest, per a league source, is 49ers fifth-round cornerback Keith Reaser. The former Florida Atlanta defender was the 170th overall pick in the draft.

Reaser tore an ACL in October and had a second surgery in February, because his body was rejecting the cadaver graft. The 5-10 defensive back ran the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds before the injury.

It’s yet another luxury pick for the 49ers, allowing them to put the player on scholarship for a year while he rehabs. Last year, the 49ers picked defensive end Tank Carradine and running back Marcus Lattimore, both of whom had torn ACLs.

That’s the best is right. Also, they have to use their plethora of picks on someone. Since the roster is so loaded, why not take a chance here or there in hopes of one day replacing those players who may leave in FA in a year or two. Like Baalke said, the balloons you have the better chance you have of popping some. Many say the 49ers should have used their picks to trade up here and there. That sounds all well and good, but it takes two teams to make a trade. Who is to say other teams didn’t try to drive up the cost on the 49ers since they knew they had so many picks to start with? Would have been a poor strategy to make a trade just for the sake of making one if the value was not there and the cost was unreasonable.